Standardization and regulation

Dimensions

Wooden pallets typically consist of three or four stringers that support several deckboards, on top of which goods are placed. In a pallet measurement, the first number is the stringer length and the second is the deckboard length. Square or nearly square pallets help a load resist tipping.

Two-way pallets are designed to be lifted by the deckboards. The standard 48×40 North American pallet, or GMA pallet, has stringers of 48 inches and deckboards of 40 inches, and was standardized by the Grocery Manufacturers Association. A standard wooden pallet (48 in × 40 in × 6 in or 122 cm × 102 cm × 15 cm) with a static load bearing capacity of 3 short tons (2.7 long tons; 2.7 t) and a 1-short-ton (0.89-long-ton; 0.91 t) dynamic capacity, will weigh approximately 33 to 48 lb (15 to 22 kg) Lightweight plastic pallets can weigh as little as 3 to 15 pounds (1.4 to 6.8 kg), while heavier models may weight up to 30 pounds (14 kg). Standard GMA pallets can hold up to 4,600 pounds (2,100 kg). GMA pallets typically weighs 37 pounds (17 kg), and are 61⁄2 inches (170 mm) tall. Their deck boards measure 31⁄4 inches (83 mm) wide and are 5⁄16 inch (7.9 mm) thick each. Other dimensions of pallets have different weight capacities.

Heavy duty IPPC two-way entry wooden pallets from Germany (DE) are approximately 44 inches (1,118 mm) wide by 48 inches (1,219 mm) long, have three wood stringers that are a nominal 4 inches (102 mm) high by 3 inches (76 mm) wide timber, and weigh about 80 pounds (36 kg). Their deck is fully covered by 30 mm (1.18 in) plywood, and has a heavy metal “Z” clip at the middle edge of each side.

Four-way pallets, or pallets for heavy loads (or general-purpose systems that might have heavy loads) are best lifted by their more rigid stringers. These pallets are usually heavier, bigger and more durable than two-way pallets.

Pallet users want pallets to easily pass through buildings, to stack and fit in racks, to be accessible to forklifts and pallet jacks and to function in automated warehouses. To avoid shipping air, pallets should also pack tightly inside intermodal containers and vans.

No universally accepted standards for pallet dimensions exist. Companies and organizations utilize hundreds of different pallet sizes around the globe. While no single dimensional standard governs pallet production, a few different sizes are widely used.

North American pallets

Of the top pallets used in North America, the most commonly used by far is the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) pallet, which accounts for 30% of all new wood pallets produced in the United States. The ISO also recognizes the GMA pallet footprint as one of its six standard sizes.

Dimensions, mm (W × L)

Dimensions, in (W × L)

Production Rank

Industries Using

1016 × 1219

40 × 48

1

Grocery, many others

1067 ×1067

42 × 42

2

Telecommunications, Paint

1219 × 1219

48 × 48

3

Drums

1219 × 1016

48 × 40

4

Military, Cement

1219 × 1067

48 × 42

5

Chemical, Beverage

1016 × 1016

40 × 40

6

Dairy

1219 × 1143

48 × 45

7

Automotive

1118 × 1118

44 × 44

8

Drums, Chemical

914 × 914

36 × 36

9

Beverage

1219 × 914

48 × 36

10

Beverage, Shingles, Packaged Paper

889 × 1156

35 × 45.5

Unknown

Military ​1⁄2 ISO container, fits 36″ standard doors

1219 × 508

48 × 20

Unknown

Retail

European pallets

Main article:

EuroPallet

EURO pallet type

Dimensions (W × L)

ISO pallet alternative

EUR, EUR 1

800 mm × 1,200 mm × 145 mm

31.50 in × 47.24 in × 5.71 in

ISO1, same size as EUR. The pallet weight is between 20 and 25 kg. Weight of a load: 2490 kg.

EUR 2

1,200 mm × 1,000 mm × 144 mm

47.24 in × 39.37 in × 5.67 in

ISO2. The pallet weight is 33 kg. Weight of a load: 1470 kg.

EUR 3

1,000 mm × 1,200 mm × 144 mm

39.37 in × 47.24 in × 5.67 in

The pallet weight is 29 kg. Weight of a load of 1920 kg.

EUR 6

800 mm × 600 mm × 144 mm

31.50 in × 23.62 in × 5.67 in

ISO0, half the size of EUR. The pallet weight is 9.5 kg. Weight of the safe load: 500 kg.

600 mm × 400 mm

23.62 in × 15.75 in

quarter the size of EUR

400 mm × 300 mm

15.75 in × 11.81 in

one-eighth the size of EUR

Australian standard pallets

Main article: Australia standard pallets

The Australian standard pallet is a pallet size commonly found in Australia but found rarely elsewhere. It is a square pallet originally made of hardwood 1,165 mm × 1,165 mm (45.87 in × 45.87 in) in size which fits perfectly in the RACE container of the Australian Railway. They are ill-suited for the standard 20 feet (6.1 m) and 40 feet (12 m) ISO shipping containers used around the globe.[1] Australian standard pallets are usually manufactured in hardwood, but 1165 × 1165 mm pallets can also be manufactured using lighter timber suitable for use as disposable pallets using 16 millimetre boards. Extensively used in storage and warehousing, they are popular pallets for racking, with the right shape and size to be removed from transport and directly onto warehouse racking for storage.

The Australian Standard Pallet dates back to World War II, while ISO containers date to the late 1950s. Although the pallet’s dimensions pre-date the ISO containers, it requires less dunnage, is square, and leaves less wasted space than other pallets, including the GMA pallet. In 2010, Australia adopted the globally accepted ISPM 15 wood packaging material regulations (before this time it was hardwood and more expensive).

Standard-setting organizations

A number of different organizations and associations around the world work towards establishing and promulgating standards for pallets. Some strive to develop universal standards for pallet dimensions, types of material used in construction, performance standards, and testing procedures. Other organizations choose to focus on pallet standards for a specific industry (such as groceries) or type of material (such as wood).

ISO TC 51 states its scope of work entailing the “standardization of pallets in general use in the form of platforms or trays on which goods may be packed to form unit loads for handling by mechanical devices”. The Technical Committee works in conjunction with other Technical Committees focused on transportation infrastructure to develop interrelated standards. TC 51 is responsible for developing ISO Standard 6780: Flat pallets for intercontinental materials handling—Principal dimensions and tolerances as well as sixteen other standards related to pallet construction and testing.

National Wood Pallet and Container Association

The National Wood Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) is a trade organization based in the United States representing the interests of wood pallet and container manufacturers.

U.S. DOD, Dept. of Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command

This organization maintains MIL-STD-1660, the standard description of palletized unit loads for the U.S. Military and some allies.

European Committee for Standardization (Comité Européen de Normalisation)

In addition to the other standards it publishes, the European Committee for Standardization, also known as the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN), produces standards for pallets. While the standards are voluntary in nature, many companies and organizations involved in transportation have adopted them. The major standard for pallets produced by CEN is ICS: 55.180.20 General purpose pallets.